78Okay, I really need to sort out my priorities... This is my third story, and I am not even close to being done with my other ones. But it was too good an idea to pass up! Don't judge me. ;)
Prologue:
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that great gifts soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of temptation danced in their heads;
And Charlie in his 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When down in the living room arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the staircase I flew like a flash,
only to fall down the staircase and make quite a clash.
The moon on the bronze hair of the new gifted doll,
Showed the beauty of sparkles to the face below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature smile, and a pair of eyes that twinkled so dear,
With a little sewn pea coat, and a wave so swift,
I knew in a moment it must be a trick.
More rapid than eagles his allies they came,
and he whispered, and murmured, like velvet to call them by name;
"Now, Alice! Now, Emmett! Now, Jasper Cullen!
Now, Carlisle! Now Esme! And you too Rosalie woman!
To the top of the fireplace! To the top of the wall!
Now hurry away! Hurry away! Hurry away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
when they meet with an obstacle, I heard a shriek cry.
When up to the fireplace the beautiful dolls flew,
with the beauty of mystery and secrets too.
In was then, in a scratching, I heard from behind me,
the prancing and pawing of little furred gnawing.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
out through a hole a beast came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of spears he had flung on his back,
and he looked like a demon commanding his pack.
Its eyes - how they glowed! His fangs how scary!
His ears were so pointy, his chin so hairy!
His cruel little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
and the minions behind him, kept in tow;
The stump of a bone he held tight in his teeth,
And the smell it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a large muscular belly,
That shook, when he cackled like a bowlful of nothing.
He was tall and fit, a right evil self,
And I cringed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had everything to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And aimed for the dolls; then turned with a jerk,
For I had suddenly kicked and stepped on his ugly little nose,
Not about to allow him his evil when he rose;
He sprang to his pack, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all ran like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him bark, ere he leapt out of sight,
"You have a vampire there. You should be scared of such a fright."
Chapter One: Gifts
Story Song: "Love Song Requiem" by Trading Yesterday
"Merry Christmas Eve!" was shouted at me from all directions as I slowly edged the door open. That, along with a bunch of hugs and kisses from people I hardly even knew.
I expected most of their comments, but I couldn't control my mind's responses.
"You look so beautiful!" one yelled. You always say that.
"So grown up and all!" a second chimed in. I haven't grown in over three years.
"When did you get so tall? Last time I saw you, you were neigh big!" The woman those words belonged to thought it necessary to give a demonstration, showing about two feet between her upraised hands. What is she talking about? I see her every year!
"Hey, everyone! Welcome back!" I hoped my smile appeared genuine.
"You are so polite!" A woman who I thought to be my mother's aunt gave me a quick little pinch on the cheek and it took all my willpower not to slap off her hand and scream 'OW!'
As the guests made their way past me and into Charlie's living room, I counted a total of eleven people. Eleven! And they had all just happened to miraculously show up at the perfect time? I was willing to bet money that it was all planned.
"Charlie! There's my good fellow!" I didn't even try to hide my cackle at the thought of Charlie facing the onslaught. He always agreed to host this Christmas thing every year, only because it was Renee's favorite thing to do.
My mother, Renee, had died of a car incident just a few years back when I was still fourteen. It had devastated my father, Charlie, and I, but had somehow brought the two of us closer together.
I at once thought he had actually enjoyed hosting these things at first, but now seventeen, I soon came to the conclusion that it was only to hold on to what little he could of Renee. Of course, I would never tell him that theory.
I grudgingly decided to come to his rescue.
The house smelt of gingerbread and sugar cookies. Our Christmas tree stood tall and strong near the front window, the lights casting a soft glow around the room and onto the snow just below its branches outside.
"Bella!" Was it just me, or did they all shout in unison? What was with these creepy people who seemed to have no memory?
Of course I blushed. I could feel the red heat spread across my face like a meteor streaking across the night sky. It was inevitable.
"Hi again, everyone." I just saw you less than a minute ago. My voice sounded small and shy, even to me. They were probably thinking how adorable I was in their minds right now, and I really didn't want to think about that.
With all their eyes trained on me under their scrutiny, I was not ashamed to admit I was ready to high-tail it out of there and abandon Charlie. But a knock on the door gave me the perfect opportunity to abandon without getting a lecture later.
I flew to the door, this time opening it with ease. I knew who waited behind it.
There is an old saying that states good things come to those who wait for it. And my uncle Phil was one who truly believed that.
"Uncle Phil!" My smile was pure this time around. He was taller than Charlie, but that wasn't saying much. He had eyes the color of the sky and a smile that could brighten your day even when your personal weather was horrific. He was a man of few words, but that suited me just fine.
He was always my sun in this holiday mess.
"Hello, my dear Bells. You knew it was me, didn't you?" The twinkle in his eye showed he already knew the answer.
"Of course! Wasn't it you who told me in the first place that only good things come to those who wait?"
He winked. "Well, now, look who's got a keen memory, hmm? I bet you're now going to ask what the good thing is that you were waiting for?"
I laughed. "Yeah, yeah. You got me there." I eyed the present behind his back.
It was covered in a pretty red paper, the Christmas lights casting a glittering spectacle onto his hands. A silver and gold ribbon flowed to the top of the long box in a bow. A necklace, perhaps? I never really was one for jewelry, but necklaces held a certain charm that neither bracelets nor rings could pull off.
"Nah ah ah, you will have to wait until later. It's a special one, this one is, but I'm afraid you'll just have to wait a bit longer when everyone else gives their gifts."
I shouldn't have been surprised.
The one difference between my other relatives and Uncle Phil was that I liked him. He could say one little thing and have it mean so much. He didn't treat me like a child, nor did he feel the urge to pinch my cheek and say how fast I'd grown. He also gave me gifts worth getting.
All the women would give me a sweater or some cheap perfume that I knew for certain neither of them would ever wear.
And the guys, being guys, would give me a deck of cards of a game I already had, or sometimes a calendar. One year, I had honestly gotten six different 2008 calendars from a bunch of old guys. Amazing gift giving that turned out to be. They weren't even worthy of anything, either! Two were about golf and the rest were about landscaping and cars.
But my Uncle Phil would give me books, necklaces, little cute figurines. No matter what he gave me each year, it always topped what those other old/weirdo people could ever muster.
I smiled at the box, knowing that whatever was inside it was about to make my night.
Pweety, pweety please review!
-Natasha
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Right down there. :)